Warwick McLean

Warwick McLean

Dressage rider, Trainer

and horse behaviour expert

Horse behaviour and dressage

“Understanding how the horse learns is the key to good training”

Warwick McLean was born in Australia and grew up with horses. Following the footsteps of his father, Dr. Andrew McLean, a successful and internationally renowned Horse behaviorist and trainer, he has learned and trained for years at his Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC), training and retraining horses. This has resulted in Warwick McLean becoming a specialist for young horses and re-educating horses.

Warwick McLean was for many years a successful event rider, before specializing in dressage. In 2005 he won multiple championships in Australia with his stallion Alessandro. In 2010 he traveled to England to train with Kyra Kirkland and her husband Richard White. He strengthened and refined his dressage riding at the highest level. He rode successfully at Inter 2 level and a second place in the Grand Prix (CDN) at the Australian Championships.

Since 2012, together with his wife Caroline McLean, Warwick has been running a training stable in Germany, near Düsseldorf. The focus of their training is horses reacting to the finest of aids combined with body control, an effective seat as well as consistent training that considers the behavior of the horses. It means a lot to them that they can work closely together as a successful international team.

“We have a young vibrant team with people and students from all over the world. We aim to make every day a learning experience and see ourselves as a very educational stable.”His years of experience as an equine behaviorist and dressage specialist means Warwick McLean is often giving national and international riding clinics and seminars. He also helps Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Team Bronze Medallist at the European Championships in Aachen 2015, with the groundwork and education of her horses.

For further info on Warwick McLean click here for his website.

Warwick McLean was born in Australia and grew up with horses. Following the footsteps of his father, Dr. Andrew McLean, a successful and internationally renowned Horse behaviorist and trainer, he has learned and trained for years at his Australian Equine Behaviour Centre (AEBC), training and retraining horses. This has resulted in Warwick McLean becoming a specialist for young horses and re-educating horses.

Warwick McLean was for many years a successful event rider, before specializing in dressage. In 2005 he won multiple championships in Australia with his stallion Alessandro. In 2010 he traveled to England to train with Kyra Kirkland and her husband Richard White. He strengthened and refined his dressage riding at the highest level. He rode successfully at Inter 2 level and a second place in the Grand Prix (CDN) at the Australian Championships.

Since 2012, together with his wife Caroline McLean, Warwick has been running a training stable in Germany, near Düsseldorf. The focus of their training is horses reacting to the finest of aids combined with body control, an effective seat as well as consistent training that considers the behavior of the horses. It means a lot to them that they can work closely together as a successful international team.

“We have a young vibrant team with people and students from all over the world. We aim to make every day a learning experience and see ourselves as a very educational stable.”His years of experience as an equine behaviorist and dressage specialist means Warwick McLean is often giving national and international riding clinics and seminars. He also helps Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Team Bronze Medallist at the European Championships in Aachen 2015, with the groundwork and education of her horses.

For further info on Warwick McLean click here for his website.

Related videos

The school of Légèreté Part 1: Theoretical basis

Those who wish to understand the philosophy of Philippe Karl and his School of Légèreté should firstly understand the theoretical aspects behind it. The foundation of his teachings is harmony and balance between horse and rider. The effectiveness of the rider plays a deciding role on the journey their training takes.

Duration: 10:59 Minutes

The School of Légèreté Part 5: Canter transitions, flying changes, pirouettes

Philippe Karl gives us not only a theoretical understanding but also explains how to put this into practice, today teaching a horse the canter transitions. He uses various arena figures and lateral work to help the horse. It is interesting to watch how the French Master teaches the flying changes, from working canter to counter canter on a circle. A high degree of collection is necessary before commencing the canter pirouettes.

Duration: 21:19 Minutes

Just Paul Part 1: First dressage training session with Paul Stecken for the young horse

Overcoming spookiness in the dressage arena

Spookiness is part of the natural behavior of horses. For success at competitions as well as for harmonic riding at home, the horse needs to learn to trust his rider and stay relaxed even in unusual or worrying situations. Uta Gräf shows how she prepares her horses at home in their everyday training for such circumstances.

Duration: 13:08 Minutes

Just Paul Part 3: dressage training in windy and noisy conditions

This series allows you to watch as Olympic medallist, Ingrid Klimke, trains the young dressage gelding “Just Paul” over two years. Even though the training conditions were not optimal today, this provides an opportunity to get the young horse used to a new situation. Watch how Ingrid does it!

Duration: 10:07 Minutes

Videos from Warwick McLean

Training horses to remain calm in uncomfortable situations part 3: Getting used to umbrellas

Warwick McLean is a successful dressage rider and horse behavioral expert. In addition to training under saddle, he helps horses with specific exercises on the ground so that they remain relaxed in all kinds of difficult situations. In this video, he demonstrates and explains how he adapts exercises according to how horses learn and effective methods one can use, as he helps a horse from Benjamin Werndl become used to an umbrella.

Duration: 21:54 Minutes

Training horses to remain calm in uncomfortable situations Part 2: habituation to objects & noise on the ground

Warwick McLean is a successful dressage rider and horse behavioral expert. With targeted groundwork, he helps horses to relax even in difficult situations using the process of habituation. In this video, he works with horses from the stable of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Benjamin Werndl.

Duration: 16:33 Minutes

Training horses to remain calm in uncomfortable situations Part 1: How do horses learn

Waving flags, spectators with umbrellas and loud music at equestrian competitions - naturally, horses react with their flight instinct in such situations. For riding horses, however, calmness and self-confidence are expected. Consistent groundwork is a good training method to achieve this goal. Before someone deals with the first basic exercises, they first need to know how a horse learns.

Duration: 16:53 Minutes

Related videos

The school of Légèreté Part 1: Theoretical basis

Those who wish to understand the philosophy of Philippe Karl and his School of Légèreté should firstly understand the theoretical aspects behind it. The foundation of his teachings is harmony and balance between horse and rider. The effectiveness of the rider plays a deciding role on the journey their training takes.

Duration: 10:59 Minutes

The School of Légèreté Part 5: Canter transitions, flying changes, pirouettes

Philippe Karl gives us not only a theoretical understanding but also explains how to put this into practice, today teaching a horse the canter transitions. He uses various arena figures and lateral work to help the horse. It is interesting to watch how the French Master teaches the flying changes, from working canter to counter canter on a circle. A high degree of collection is necessary before commencing the canter pirouettes.

Duration: 21:19 Minutes

Just Paul Part 1: First dressage training session with Paul Stecken for the young horse

Overcoming spookiness in the dressage arena

Spookiness is part of the natural behavior of horses. For success at competitions as well as for harmonic riding at home, the horse needs to learn to trust his rider and stay relaxed even in unusual or worrying situations. Uta Gräf shows how she prepares her horses at home in their everyday training for such circumstances.

Duration: 13:08 Minutes

Just Paul Part 3: dressage training in windy and noisy conditions

This series allows you to watch as Olympic medallist, Ingrid Klimke, trains the young dressage gelding “Just Paul” over two years. Even though the training conditions were not optimal today, this provides an opportunity to get the young horse used to a new situation. Watch how Ingrid does it!